Lymphoma treatment costs
PET-CT Across a Lymphoma Course: — The Full Bill
Most families are quoted a price for the first PET-CT scan and assume that is the cost. It is not. A standard lymphoma treatment plan includes at least three PET-CT scans — and sometimes more. The total is worth understanding from the first appointment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Three scans, minimum — Most lymphoma protocols plan at least three PET-CT scans: before treatment, partway through, and after the last cycle.
- Each scan is a separate bill — Imaging centres quote per scan. The first quote does not cover the full course.
- The interim scan can change treatment — The midcourse scan is clinically decisive — it can directly alter the treatment plan while it is still running.
- Insurance needs pre-authorisation each time — Most insurers require approval before each scan individually, not just once for the course.
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A standard lymphoma treatment plan includes at least three PET-CT scans: one before treatment, one partway through, and one at the end. Each is billed separately. No quote from the first scan covers the full course. Ask your haemato-oncologist at diagnosis how many are planned, so your family can budget from the start.
CION does PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
What do the terms on a lymphoma PET-CT report mean?
- Baseline PET-CT
- The scan done before treatment begins. It maps every active area of lymphoma in the body and creates the reference point for all scans that follow. Without it, later results cannot be properly interpreted.
- Interim PET-CT
- A scan done partway through treatment, usually after two to four chemotherapy cycles. It tells the team whether the lymphoma is responding and can directly change what happens next — a different drug, adjusted dose, or additional radiotherapy.
- End-of-treatment PET-CT
- The scan done after the final treatment cycle. It confirms how completely the disease has responded and shapes whether further treatment is recommended.
- Surveillance PET-CT
- Scans done at intervals after treatment ends to watch for recurrence. Not all patients need surveillance PET-CT; some protocols use CT instead. Your haemato-oncologist decides which, and for how long.
- Deauville Score
- The five-point scale radiologists use to grade the metabolic activity seen on a lymphoma PET-CT. It appears in your report as a number from 1 to 5. What that number means for your treatment is your haemato-oncologist's decision, not something to interpret from the report alone.
- Complete metabolic response (CMR)
- A PET result showing no detectable active disease. It is a positive finding, but it is not a statement about cure. Your treating team uses it alongside clinical assessment to decide what comes next.
What should you ask before booking the first scan?
- Ask how many PET-CT scans are in the full treatment planGet the total number at diagnosis, not scan by scan.
- Get a cost quote for each scan type separatelyBaseline, interim, and end-of-treatment scans may be at different centres or carry different fees.
- Check whether your insurance covers PET-CT for lymphomaAnd whether prior authorisation is required before each scan individually.
- Ask your insurer about any per-scan cap or annual diagnostic sub-limitMultiple scans in one year can approach or exhaust a sub-limit before treatment ends.
- Confirm which imaging centre your team refers toCost quotes must come from that centre — general estimates online are unreliable.
- Tell your team early if cost is a concernSupport options are not routinely raised unless you ask.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
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Why does lymphoma need more than one PET-CT scan?
Lymphoma is one of the few cancers where the response seen partway through treatment can directly change the treatment plan while it is still underway. The interim scan is clinically decisive, not a routine check.
Each scan type serves a distinct purpose. The baseline establishes the starting point. The interim checks whether the plan is working. The end-of-treatment scan confirms the final result.
Surveillance scans after treatment vary by lymphoma type and response. Ask your haemato-oncologist at the outset which scans are definitively in your plan and which depend on earlier results.
How do cost and insurance work across the full scan course?
Is PET-CT for lymphoma covered by Indian health insurance?
Most private health insurance policies in India cover PET-CT when it is requested for a diagnosed cancer. Coverage is not automatic — most insurers require prior authorisation before each scan, not just the first. Ask your insurer what documentation is needed: typically a letter from the treating doctor stating the clinical reason. If you have CGHS coverage as a central government employee, PET-CT is generally a covered investigation. Check whether your policy settles directly with the imaging centre or reimburses you after the scan — the two processes have different timelines and paperwork requirements.
Why does each scan cost the same even when the disease has responded well?
A PET-CT costs the same to run regardless of how much active disease is visible. The cost reflects the FDG tracer, scanner time, radiologist reading, and report — none of these change because the disease has responded. This surprises many families who expect a lower cost when there is less to see. The scan is no less important when the result is good: confirming a complete metabolic response is one of the most significant readings in a lymphoma course.
What if cost is a barrier to one of the planned scans?
Raise this with your haemato-oncologist before the scan is ordered, not after. The decision about which scans can be deferred or replaced with a different modality belongs to your treating team. Skipping an interim PET-CT can remove the basis for mid-course treatment decisions that may not be easily revisited. If cost is the concern, tell your team directly — there may be hospital support funds, government schemes, or imaging centres with differential pricing that are not routinely offered unless you ask.
Are all PET-CT centres equally reliable for lymphoma reporting?
Not equally. Lymphoma PET-CT requires the Deauville scoring system, which works correctly only when the radiologist is experienced in lymphoma reporting. An incomplete or inaccurate report can lead to a wrong clinical decision. CION coordinates PET-CT through partner imaging centres experienced in oncology reporting. Follow your treating team's referral rather than choosing a centre on price alone — a report that needs to be repeated adds cost and delay, not a saving.
A whole-body PET-CT at CION is Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with a free Rs 950 oncologist consultation to talk through your report. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How many PET-CT scans will I need for lymphoma?
At minimum three: one before treatment starts, one partway through, and one after the last cycle. Surveillance scans after treatment are additional and vary by lymphoma type and how well the disease responded. Your haemato-oncologist can tell you at diagnosis which scans are definitively in the plan and which depend on earlier results. Getting this number early is the most useful thing you can do for financial planning.
How much does a lymphoma PET-CT scan cost in India?
Costs vary significantly by city, centre, and scan protocol. Any figure published online may be out of date and will not reflect your centre's current rate. The only reliable number is the one quoted directly by the imaging centre your team has referred you to. Ask for the quote specifying an FDG PET-CT — the standard for lymphoma — so you have a like-for-like comparison if you are checking more than one centre.
Does insurance cover the interim scan as well as the baseline?
Most health insurance policies in India cover each medically indicated PET-CT separately. Each scan typically requires its own prior-authorisation request. Some policies have an annual cap on diagnostic investigations that multiple scans in one year can approach. Read your policy document before each scan is booked, and contact your insurer to confirm coverage rather than assuming it continues automatically from the previous scan.
What does the Deauville Score on my report mean?
It is a five-point scale radiologists use to describe the metabolic activity on a lymphoma PET-CT. The number in your report is not a standalone verdict — its meaning depends on your lymphoma type, the treatment protocol you are on, and where you are in the course. Your haemato-oncologist is the only person who can interpret it correctly for your situation. Comparing it against general guides online is likely to produce anxiety without the context needed to make sense of it.
Can the scans be brought forward or combined to reduce cost?
No. Each scan is timed to a specific point in the treatment calendar — the interval between baseline, interim, and end-of-treatment scans is clinically determined, not logistical. Changing the timing changes the clinical value of the result. What you can do is prepare the referral paperwork and insurance authorisation early, so there is no avoidable delay when the scan date arrives.
Is it worth getting a second opinion on a PET-CT result?
In some cases, yes. If your team is making a significant treatment decision based on a borderline interim PET result — intensifying chemotherapy, stopping treatment early, or adding radiotherapy — a second reading from an experienced lymphoma imaging centre is reasonable to request. Most haemato-oncologists welcome independent confirmation before a major change. Ask your treating team how to arrange this rather than sourcing a second opinion independently.